Neutron generator for BNCT based on high current ECR ion source with gyrotron plasma heating V. Skalyga a,b,n , I. Izotov a , S. Golubev a , S. Razin a , A. Sidorov a,b , A. Maslennikova b,c , A. Volovecky b , T. Kalvas d , H. Koivisto d , O. Tarvainen d a Institute of Applied Physics, RAS, 46 Ul’yanova st., 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia b Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod (UNN), 23 Gagarina st., 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia c Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy, 10/1 Minina Sq., 603005 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia d University of Jyvaskyla, Department of Physics, P.O. Box 35 (YFL), 40500 Jyväskylä, Finland HIGHLIGHTS  The present paper describes a new idea of compact neutron generator creation for boron neutron capture therapy.  Results on production of high current deuteron beams are presented.  First experiments on neutron production with heavy ice target are described.  Estimations of theoretical performance of the suggested neutron generator are presented. article info Article history: Received 29 January 2015 Received in revised form 11 August 2015 Accepted 14 August 2015 Keywords: Boron neutron capture therapy Neutron generator High current ECR ion source Gyrotron abstract BNCT development nowadays is constrained by a progress in neutron sources design. Creation of a cheap and compact intense neutron source would significantly simplify trial treatments avoiding use of ex- pensive and complicated nuclear reactors and accelerators. D-D or D-T neutron generator is one of al- ternative types of such sources for. A so-called high current quasi-gasdynamic ECR ion source with plasma heating by millimeter wave gyrotron radiation is suggested to be used in a scheme of D-D neutron generator in the present work. Ion source of that type was developed in the Institute of Applied Physics of Russian Academy of Sciences (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia). It can produce deuteron ion beams with current density up to 700–800 mA/cm 2 . Generation of the neutron flux with density at the level of 7–8  10 10 s 1 cm 2 at the target surface could be obtained in case of TiD 2 target bombardment with deuteron beam accelerated to 100 keV. Estimations show that it is enough for formation of epithermal neutron flux with density higher than 10 9 s 1 cm 2 suitable for BNCT. Important advantage of described approach is absence of Tritium in the scheme. First experiments performed in pulsed regime with 300 mA, 45 kV deuteron beam directed to D 2 O target demonstrated 10 9 s 1 neutron flux. This value corresponds to theoretical estimations and proofs prospects of neutron generator development based on high current quasi-gasdynamic ECR ion source. & 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Radiation therapy is one of the main treatment methods of malignant neoplasms, necessary for at least 65–70% of cancer patients. Despite impressive progress in radiotherapy techniques and equipment development, which allow irradiating the tumor without damaging the surrounding normal tissue, there exists a group of tumors which are resistant to standard radiation types. A possible solution for this problem is boron neutron capture ther- apy (BNCT) (Barth Rolf et al., 1990; Farr et al., 1954; Barth et al., 2005; Nakagawa et al., 2003)-one of the most promising options for radiation therapy nowadays. BNCT advantages have been clearly demonstrated in test treatments of the most malignant and aggressive running brain tumor – multiform glioblastoma (Yamamoto et al., 2009) and melanoma metastasis, which are one of the most radiation re- sistant tumor types. Over the past ten years more than 1000 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/apradiso Applied Radiation and Isotopes http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2015.08.015 0969-8043/& 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. n Corresponding author at: Institute of Applied Physics, RAS, 46 Ul`yanova st., 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. E-mail address: Skalyga.Vadim@gmail.com (V. Skalyga). Please cite this article as: Skalyga, V., et al., Neutron generator for BNCT based on high current ECR ion source with gyrotron plasma heating. Appl. Radiat. Isotopes (2015), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2015.08.015i Applied Radiation and Isotopes ∎ (∎∎∎∎) ∎∎∎–∎∎∎